Pearls Dancehall and Saloon

Before I start this review you should note that there are other reviews of this great place listed under Pearl's (apostrophe) Dancehall and Saloon. This smallish bar can be found at the edges of Stockyards in a historic building that was once a brothel owned by Buffalo Bill Cody. I loved this place. This is a real Texas music bar featuring genuine country music. I mean the good stuff, Honky-Tonk, Western Swing, Texas Country. This is the kind of place where you can expect to see a steel guitar, stand-up bass and fiddle on stage. This is something genuine in the Stockyards, an area with waaaaay too much ridiculous, cheesy, touristy, urban-cowboy crap. The people who come here mostly are either locals or actual ranchers/farmers coming into town for a good time.

Do not expect line dancing and ridiculously garish sequined outfits. The place looks authentically great. There is a Texas flag for a curtain, a slightly broken window and the very brothel looking bronze ceiling. People come here to drink, listen to great music and dance. Man and women partner dancing done in the more traditional way is the specialty here. I was there to see the legendary Dale Watson and marveled at the way the ranchers, the rockabilly kids and suburbanites danced all knight. The crowed other than some rockabilly types and a some young couples from out in the country was older and they were no sexy idiots are up-town party people. Grown folks drink at this place, people who work HARD and want to let loose. The guy at the door was genuinely friendly, so was the very nice owner of the place behind the bar. The prices for booze are pretty good but they are great for the Stockyards.

Some practical info:When going to see a big act it is best to reserve a table. All the tables with good views of the stage were reserved. They said to get there at 8 for a 9 show but we felt like fools being there virtually alone until 8:45 or so. They allow smoking everywhere but the dance floor but not that many people do smoke so the place is not smelly and smokey. The sound system was not glaringly loud. It could have actually been a little louder but it was great to order drinks and talk to people without screaming.

I hope to put this rev in lists that may garner the attention of visitors from outside the state. If you want to see and hear something of real traditional Texas life, real music and simply not be another sheep tourist that only wants to see the pathetic, plastic Hollywood stereotype of Texas, skip the overpriced tourist traps and come here.